Best way to get big pinboard on wall?

MarySum

So in our spare room (which is also the study), I really want to have a large floor to ceiling area as a giant pinboard. Inspired by one I used to have at work, the idea is to have it painted the same colour as the walls, so it blends in, and you can pin stuff directly to the wall. I have a huge collection of postcards, bits from magazines, and other pieces that I'd like to be able to see and arrange. It would also add a bit of colour to the room.

Has anyone done this? I'm torn on the best way to do it. The ideas I had so far were either:

- Getting loads of cork wall/floor tiles and attaching them to the wall (not sure what with) and painting them. Disadvantage is that they may be difficult to remove if we change our minds...

- Getting a large sheet of MDF, and a large piece of cork sheeting. Stick the sheeting to the MDF, then screw the MDF to the wall. Paint. Thought this might cost more money and look too bulky.

Any ideas?

ormus

whatever you do, certainly use a backing board of some sort.
if you change your mind, removing the cork tiles stuck to the walls, will be a nightmare.

MarySum

That's what I thought - having spent hours stripping tons of old walllpaper in this flat, don't really want to be chipping cork tiles off the wall in a few years time!

I feel like lots of people must have done this, but can't find any good examples online or in magazines.

MarySum

Thanks Vaio, that's really interesting - did you use just normal double-sided tape or the super-sticky carpet stuff?

vaio

We did this years ago with cork tiles, do a tile sized grid on the wall with double sided tape, add tiles & have a beer.

We didn’t paint them so not sure about that. Either the paint soaking in or the cork colour showing through where pins have been removed

Came off after a couple of years with no problem

vaio

Just normal, I was “assisted” by a 6 year old and the only problem we had was in a couple of places where he got the tape crooked and it missed the edge of the tile which then lifted. OH sorted that, probably with a bit of super glue.

The tape we used was maybe 15/20mm wide but if you can get wider it cuts down on the precision needed (useful for adults, essential for 6 year olds)

SailorSam

Another idea would to get a big cardboard box, something like a washing machine may have come in, cut it up and then find a off-cut of material to cover it that may match the curtains or cushions.
Any pins go into cardboard easier than Mdf.

MarySum

I've been doing a bit of research, and I'm fairly convinced that what we had in our old work was a Sundeala board (google it for their website) - you can get them 2.4 by 1.2 m which would be perfect. They're made of recycled paper or something. Mixed reports as to whether you can paint them or whether they need to be covered.

Looks like you can get it fairly cheaply though as apparently it's popular with model railway enthusiasts for doing... something...

Anyone know if you can buy this in B&Q/timbers merchants or somewhere like that?

ormus

aye, sundeala board is very popular with model railway builders.
its very easy to pin the tracks to the board. so suitable for a wall i would imagine?

jennifernil

We bought stuff for pinboards for our Guide Hall from our local builders merchant, 2400 x 1200 mm........sounds like it could be the Sundeala board. OH made wooden battens to hold the edges and finish them neatly, but the board is also glued to the wall, he used something like No More Nails.

We then had them painted with 2 coats of emulsion same as the walls, it has been fine.

clivejohnson

yep-sundela board is the way to go, as that its soley what it was designed for- for use as pinbioard. Its light, easy to use and can be pinned or nailed to a wall.
I personally wouldnt use no nails, as if you wish to take it down for whatever reason (redecorating, etc) then you can do;-)